Figure 6-32. Sand fence deterioration due to exposure and storms. 



have these essential characteristics, one or more suitable species of beach 

 grasses occur along most of the beaches of the United States. 



The most frequently used beach grasses are American beachgrass iAmmophila 

 hrevitigutata) along the mid- and upper-Atlantic coast and in the Great Lakes 

 region (Jagschitz and Bell, 1966b; Woodhouse and Hanes, 1967; Woodhouse, 

 1970); European beachgrass (Ammophila arenavia) along the Pacific Northwest 

 and California coasts (McLaughlin and Brown, 1942; Brown and Hafenrichter , 

 1948; Kidby and Oliver, 1965; U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1967); sea oats 

 {Uniola panioulata) along the South Atlantic and gulf coasts (Woodhouse, 

 Seneca, and Cooper, 1968; Woodard, et al., 1971); panic grasses {Paniaum 

 amarum) and (P. amarulum) along the Atlantic and gulf coasts (Woodhouse, 1970; 

 Woodard, et al., 1971). Table 6-3 is a regional summary of the principal 

 plants used for dune stabilization. 



b. Harvesting and Processing . The plants should be dug with care so 

 that most roots remain attached to the plants. The clumps should be separated 

 Into transplants having the desired number of culms (stems). Plants should be 

 cleaned of most dead vegetation and trimmed to a length of about 50 centi- 

 meters (20 inches) to facilitate mechanical transplanting. 



Most plants may be stored several weeks if their bases are wrapped with 

 wet burlap, covered with moist sand, or placed in containers with 3 to 5 

 centimeters of fresh water. Survival of sea oats is reduced if stored more 

 than 3 to 4 days. To reduce weight during transport, the roots and basal 

 nodes may be dipped in clay slurry and the plants bundled and wrapped in 



6-44 



